Chapter 126 Leaving Everyone in the Dust
Confronted with the encroaching swarm of ghosts, Eric initiated Zephyr Stride, experiencing a surge in his speed as he dashed into the decaying house.
The piercing shriek of a level 15 Savage Malevolence, an elite among the ghosts, cut through the air. It was a call to arms, drawing even more Cursed Specters towards the house, quickly surrounding it. Under the Savage Malevolence's command, they began a methodical assault, pouring into the building.
The dwelling was diminutive and structurally compromised, with dust clouds swirling into the air at the slightest disturbance. The portal was constricted, permitting passage for no more than two individuals abreast with considerable effort.
Just as the first wave of Cursed Specters pressed through the doorway, a small object arced through the air.
The Frostbite Grenade detonated, unleashing a wave of frigid air that instantly froze a thirty-foot radius. Over fifty Cursed Specters were caught in the blast, their forms encased in ice. Each Specter suffered 440 damage, their health plummeting. The frozen barrier also stemmed the tide, preventing the remaining ghosts from swarming inside and overwhelming Eric.
He took advantage of the five-second freeze, unleashing Thunderbolt. Three bolts of crackling energy shot from his hand, striking the immobile targets. However, due to the level difference, the damage was minimal, barely scratching their substantial health pools.
System: [Thunderbolt proficiency increased by 3 points.]
Despite the low damage output, battling higher-level enemies provided a significant boost to his skill proficiency. Each successful attack granted 3 proficiency points.
While waiting for the Frostbite Grenade's cooldown, Eric used the trapped Specters as training dummies, honing his skills.
Earthshatter Strike!
Inferno Thunderstorm!
He unleashed a barrage of area-of-effect skills, the impacts echoing through the small house. The damage was negligible, but his proficiency in those skills skyrocketed with each passing second.
As the effects of his skills faded, he tossed another Frostbite Grenade, finishing off the frozen Specters. A shower of copper coins and small Essence of Spirits followed, quickly converted into a significant chunk of experience points.
The first wave was down, but more Cursed Specters were already clawing their way through the windows and the back door.
Undeterred, Eric repeated his strategy. He waited for the ghosts to funnel through the narrow chokepoints, then unleashed another Frostbite Grenade, freezing them in place. When his other skills were off cooldown, he used them to chip away at the Specters' health. If not, he bided his time, waiting for another opportunity to unleash his icy trump card.
Ghost Town was teeming with Cursed Specters, and the enraged Savage Malevolence continued to summon reinforcements, its shrieks echoing through the deserted streets. The house was practically drowning in a sea of malevolent spirits.
Engaging them with brute force would necessitate the deployment of hundreds of proficient combatants. Nevertheless, Eric was meticulously reducing their ranks through a strategic blend of ingenious tactics and potent grenades. His progress might be slower, but it was undeniably safer and allowed him to simultaneously grind his skill proficiencies – a win-win situation.
Wave after wave of Cursed Specters fell, and Eric's experience bar steadily climbed, his skills growing sharper with each encounter.
In less than five minutes, he reached level 8.
Despite the sheer number of Specters he'd slain, it was but a drop in the bucket compared to the town's total population.
Upon reaching level 8, the experience gained from each kill decreased, but it was still a considerable 4,200 points per Specter. His leveling speed was nothing short of astonishing. With every wave eliminated, his experience bar surged forward. Any other player witnessing this would be flabbergasted.
They struggled for hours to gain a sliver of progress, while Eric's experience bar seemed to be on a rocket-fueled ascent, leaving everyone else in the dust.
As his supply of Frostbite Grenades dwindled, so did the number of Cursed Specters. The Savage Malevolence, sensing its dwindling forces, grew increasingly agitated. Its cries became more frantic, desperate to bolster its ranks.
Twenty minutes later, Eric's body was bathed in a golden light as he reached level 9. Inferno Thunderstorm reached level 2, and Earthshatter Strike hit level 3.
With the added bonuses from Abyssal Blade, Inferno Thunderstorm effectively became level 4, and Earthshatter Strike reached level 5.
Inferno Thunderstorm, at level 4, required a melee weapon and dealt 300 base damage plus additional flame and lightning damage to all enemies within a 15-foot radius. It also inflicted a 4.5-second stun, making it a powerful crowd-control tool. Its cooldown was reduced to 36 seconds.
Earthshatter Strike, at level 5, required a sword and dealt 190 base damage. However, it had the potential to amplify weapon damage by up to 360% based on a charge time of 0.2 to 3 seconds. With a 30-foot range and a 40-second cooldown, it provided a balance of power and versatility.
The cooldown reduction and increased damage output of both skills were substantial. With these two moves alone, Eric could easily dispatch any monster within his level range.
However, the most significant development was Eric reaching level 9. In Silvervale City, a level 9 player was practically unheard of. If a ranking system existed, Eric would undoubtedly claim the top spot, leaving everyone else scrambling to catch up.
Upon reaching level 9, Eric allocated all his attribute points to agility, finally reaching 75 points. This allowed him to equip the Mithril-grade Cloak of the Shadowhunter.
The cloak significantly enhanced his attributes, propelling his agility beyond 80 points. Upon reaching 100, he would activate a unique, concealed agility skill, thereby further augmenting his combat proficiency.
Moreover, Eric's health now exceeded 1,200 points, his movement speed reached 24, and his attack speed hit 30. He had also learned Silent Stride, a skill that would prevent CelestialParagon from escaping as easily as their last encounter.
At level 9, the level suppression from the Cursed Specters was less significant. Combined with his enhanced skills, Eric became a force to be reckoned with.
He could now eliminate a Cursed Specter with a single Frostbite Grenade followed by a three-hit combo, significantly conserving his dwindling grenade supply.
After another ten minutes of relentless fighting, Eric's experience bar reached 36% of level 9. At this rate, he would undoubtedly hit level 10 within the hour. However, he had already decimated over seventy percent of the Cursed Specters on the entire street. The Savage Malevolence, pushed to its limit, unleashed a furious roar and decided to take matters into its own hands.
The remaining Specters parted, creating a path for their leader.
Over a dozen hulking Savage Malevolences charged towards the house, their eyes burning with murderous intent.
[Savage Malevolence, elite level, level 15, with 5,000 health points.]
Compared to their Cursed Specter brethren, Savage Malevolences were larger, faster, and deadlier. They moved with an unnatural swiftness, like phantoms flickering across the battlefield. Their arsenal consisted of powerful close-combat skills, and their 70% innate physical immunity, 30% physical evasion, and 5,000 health points made them a nightmare for any melee class. Additionally, their resistance to magic was formidable. Magic damage was only increased by 50%, and each instance of the same attribute magic damage suffered a 50% reduction, rendering even seasoned magic users practically helpless.
But their most terrifying aspect was their intelligence.
After the first evolution of Divine Realms: Legends, ordinary monsters above level 10 gained a significant boost to their cognitive abilities. These level 15 elites were even more cunning and tactical, making them incredibly dangerous adversaries.
In his previous life, Eric had witnessed firsthand the carnage these Savage Malevolences could inflict. The Divine Radiance Guild, one of the most powerful guilds in the game, had lost hundreds of members trying to subdue these creatures.
"So, the real fight begins,"
Eric muttered, a hint of excitement in his voice.
He had been curious about how these highly intelligent monsters would react when confronted with a player far exceeding their power.
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